It’s almost that time again – World Cup football. I’m not really a fan, don’t know or follow any teams or leagues, don’t know or care who’s who. But once every four years, I’m all interested in it.

I’ve found the schedule for tv coverage in Canada, the only downside is being on the other side of the world, some of the game times are at odd hours. 7:30 in the morning? Dang. Still, if you can’t see it live, you can watch the rerun later I guess.

Just 10 minutes to kickoff of the final match of World Cup 2006. Call me crazy but I think I was having more fun in the first round.

Back then, you had 2 or 3 matches a day, and you had all the countries playing, and you had the different groups each with their separate struggles for position.

The quarters, semis, and finals, you just have the one game, one result, and that’s it. Tense, exciting, emotional…but not as much fun.

Well, that’s my opinion, anyhow.

Who am I cheering on? Well in the semis, I had to weigh the four teams like this:My alltime favorite wines right now are Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner. So Germany was my #1 favorite.I am fond of Bordeaux, some Burgundies, and much of the Midi wines. So France was my #2 favorite.I do enjoy my Ports now and then, especially a nice Madiera, so Portugal would have been my #3, except they beat England!And finaly, Italy makes a lot of wine, but I only really like the Valpolicellas and Amarones.

In other words, yesterday I was cheering for Germany, and today I cheer for France.